Walking Down The Manny Road - Blackburn Rovers 0. Bolton Wanderers 0.

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Blackburn Rovers 0. Bolton Wanderers 0.

By Mark Heys
January 14 2006
Hidetoshi Nakata was sent off as Bolton Wanderers battled out a goalless draw with Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers earlier today.

Nakata was dismissed for a second bookable offence on 33 minutes to leave the Wanderers playing two thirds of the game at a disadvantage but it came as no surprise as the match referee was none other than Mike Riley, a man infamous for controversy when officiating Bolton games.

The overall game was scrappy and chances where very much few and far between as both sides battled for bragging rights in what was the tenth meeting between these two sides since they both gained promotion back to the top flight in 2001.

Ex-Rovers striker Kevin Davies had the first chance of the game on ten minutes but American goalkeeper Brad Friedel guarded his goal well to deny the Wanderers a chance of forcing themselves into the lead.

A midfield duel between the highly charged Robbie Savage and Trotters midfielder Nakata made interesting viewing, and not surprisingly the Welshman Savage often faced the wrath of his opposing players due to his unorthadox style.

Paul Dickov was playing as lone striker for Blackburn with David Bentley offering support but neither could find their way past the excellent Tal Ben-Haim who was surprisingly linked with a move to Portsmouth earlier on this week.

Dickov miscued a shot in the 17th minute but it was the antics of the afforementioned Savage which threatened to spoil the game as both Nakata and Fadiga where cautioned for fouls on the ex-Leicester City man.

This booking dished out by Riley proved to be costly for Japan icon Nakata as he received a red card just past the half hour for fouling Rovers on-loan attacker Bentley and substitute Ivan Campo was introduced by Bolton soonafter in a tatical switch which cut short Jared Borgetti's first full Premiership start.

Just before the break the impressive Brett Emerton nearly put Rovers into the lead but his header from Dickov's cross lacked enough power and precision to really test Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Wanderers goal.

Australian flyer Emerton came even closer on 48 minutes as he hit the crossbar with a header following some good work by down the left hand side by former England international left back Michael Gray

Blackburn tried to create more chances but a combination of good defending and wasteful finishing meant that the scores stayed on level terms but Bolton can be proud at the way that they covered the threat of the extra man.

Substitute Campo fired straight at Friedel in the Blackburn goal on 65 minutes but the best chance fell the way of fellow substitute Ricardo Vaz-Te who embarassingly slipped at the last minute when rounding the goalkeeper following a good through ball by the hard working Davies.

Both sides made changes in the final quarter in an attempt to force a winner with Bolton bringing on Matt Jansen in place of Fadiga just a day after the striker completed his Free Transfer move from Rovers.

The home side introduced Shefki Kuqi and Craig Bellamy in place of Emerton and Dickov but neither could find a route through the Bolton defenders. Blackburn's powerful centre half Ryan Nelsen nearly did though as his header from Savage's cross was cleared off the line at the last minute by Campo.

Just like the corresponding fixture in September this tie ended all square and goalless so Bolton will hope that next weekend's match with Manchester City will bring them some luck on what has been a mixed Christmas and New Year period.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Tal Ben-Haim, Bruno N'Gotty, Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Nolan, Hidetoshi Nakata, Khalilou Fadiga (Matt Jansen), Stelios Giannakopoulos (Ricardo Vaz-Te), Jared Borgetti (Ivan Campo), Kevin Davies

Subs Not Used: Ian Walker, Nicky Hunt

Blackburn Rovers: Brad Friedel, Lucas Neill, Andy Todd, Ryan Nelsen, Michael Gray, Brett Emerton (Shefki Kuqi), Robbie Savage, Steven Reid, Morten Gamst Pedersen, David Bentley, Paul Dickov (Craig Bellamy)

Subs Not Used: Peter Enckleman, Zurab Khizinishvilli, Tugay

Referee:

Mike Riley

Attendance:

18,180

Booked:

Hidetoshi Nakata (Bolton)

Khalilou Fadiga (Bolton)

Joey O'Brien (Bolton)

Steven Reid (Blackburn)

Bruno N'Gotty (Bolton)

Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton)